Committee considers changes in scheduling

A Sylvania schools committee is considering making changes to the two high schools' scheduling system, so they can make better use of time during the day.

The Task Force for Restructuring Time, with members including students, teachers, and other personnel, began meeting in January to discuss options.

The 40-plus member group is working on a plan that could include changing to block scheduling. Another possibility is merging the Northview and Southview schools' schedules, said committee member Pat McNichols.

The Ohio Graduation Test, which students will take at the end of their sophomore year, is also affecting the district. It goes into effect for the 2007 graduating class.

Today students typically take American History in their junior year, Mrs. McNichols said. The test requires it be taken before than. Being able to offer that and other classes to freshman and sophomores, in the order they need to complete them, is important, she said.

Block scheduling typically means longer class periods and alternating days so a student wouldn't necessarily have the same classes every day, but every other day. Other variations on the schedule allow some classes to meet every day.

For example, in Springfield Local, the high school uses a schedule with 90-minute periods, four classes a day. The students take classes for one semester at a time.

“We're looking for a way to create a schedule that would allow students to take more classes during their four years in school,” she said.

Currently, Northview and Southview high schools operate on different variations of traditional scheduling, Mrs. McNichols said. Any changes would take place in both schools, putting them on the same timeframes.

No decisions have been made yet, but the group plans to report its findings to the school board in the upcoming school year. After that, they will seek public input. The earliest scheduling would take effect is the 2004-2005 school year.

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